China has introduced the DF-26D, a new variant of its Dong Feng-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile, capable of striking U.S. carrier strike groups in the Pacific. The missile was showcased during military rehearsals for the September parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat. Operational since 2016 with the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, the DF-26 can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads. With a range of roughly 5,000 km, it can reach Andersen Air Force Base, Naval Base Guam, and Camp Blaz, earning the nickname “Guam Killer.”
The DF-26D retains this range while improving precision and survivability. Its modular design allows a single launcher crew to swap warheads in the field, supporting nuclear, high-explosive, submunition, or penetrator payloads. Mounted on a 12×12 road-mobile launcher, it can deploy quickly without relying on fixed bases. Anti-ship capability has been enhanced through tests in China’s Taklamakan Desert using full-scale mock-ups of U.S. carriers and destroyers.
Technically, the DF-26D measures 15.8 meters long, 1.4 meters in diameter, and can carry 1,200–1,800 kg warheads, reaching speeds up to Mach 18 in terminal flight. Its circular error probable is about 100 meters. Analysts note that the new variant integrates active radar seekers, multi-spectral sensors, and advanced decoys, complicating interception by U.S. defenses like Aegis, THAAD, and Patriot.
The DF-26D poses a direct threat to U.S. bases in Guam and naval groups across the Pacific. Its introduction reflects China’s ongoing refinement of long-range, dual-capable, mobile missile systems. The modular and versatile design increases operational complexity for U.S. forces and underscores China’s expanding strike capabilities in the region.
